L.E. Bayonet issue

summerside sniper

summerside sniper

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EE Expired
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Location
Head of St Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia
Ok, so I think I've made a very silly mistake. I was on the EE and there is a #4 MkII bayonet, scabbard, and frog for a really really good price. Now silly me, I made the mistake of forgetting that I have a MkI. Is this a really big issue or am I making a mountain out of a mole hill. Correct bayonet and everything is very important to me. But being a MkII to a MkI, I may consider it unless there is significant differences. Someone please lend some advice on this...
 
Seems nitpicky to me!!

It would be a bigger deal if you bought a bayonet for a No. 1 and you have a No. 4!

Then you'd need to tape it on or something..

Sorry I wasn't helpful at all.
 
If you are worrying about getting a No. 4 Mk I bayonet for a No. 4 Mk I rifle, stop worrying. The Mk I spike (cruciform) bayonet was only a limited run of about 10,000 pcs by Singer for trials. The No. 4 Mk II, Mk II* and Mk III were common issue for both the No. 4 Mk I and I* rifles. Now, if you had a very early No. 4 Mk I rifle, that may be a different story, but in general just about any spike will do. If you are going for a No. 4 Mk I cruciform bayonet, watch out for fakes and be prepared to spend anywhere from $80 to $120 for a good one. Seems like a lot for a fancy tent peg, doesn't it?
 
Just to clear things up, and this might just be being nit picky I admit. I HAVE a Mk1, and the bayonet is a Mk2.

I don't really know much about my rifle, which might just be important. Its a 1950 Lee Enfield. I'm assuming a Long Branch. Left side of reciever says: S (or 5) No4Mk1* and it has a B under the serial #, Top Reciever: * and US PROPERTY, Right Side reads ENGLAND. I hope this helps and clears some things up. Oh, and how do you tell the manufacture year of the rifle? I can't find the date stamp anywhere.
 
Your rifle was made by Savage, only the early ones are dated. Yours was made in late 1942 up to 44, with the serial number we could tell you the date. If you want to be picky, you need a MKII bayonet made by Savage.
 
Your in luck! P&S guns and militaria has two such bayos in their bayo section. A great price too, I might add.
Pete
 
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Long Branch was also a manufacturer of No. 4 rifles located in Canada, your rifle was manufactured by Savage located in the USA and was made under contract for the British Government. No your rifle is not a SMLE, but a No.4 MKI* rifle. SMLE refers to the No.1 MKI to MKV Models rifles.
 
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Savage is the same company in the US that still makes guns today and according to JP, apparently made your gun then. Your gun is a US manufactured gun. Long Branch is the Canadian manufacturer. They were located in Long Branch, New Toronto. Long Branch only made the No.4 and variants (C No.7 etc.)
 
Savage production started in 1941, the contract under Lend Lease ended in the summer of 1944. Something over a million rifles were made. Your rifle was the 954,916th rifle made by Savage at their factory in Chicopee Falls, Mass. The C in the serial is for Chicopee. In all likelihood, your rifle was made 1944. The square S in front of The No. 4 Mk. I* is Savage's mark. The "England" stamp was applied after the rifle was sold surplus, prior to export from the UK.
 
tiriaq said:
Savage production started in 1941, the contract under Lend Lease ended in the summer of 1944. Something over a million rifles were made. Your rifle was the 954,916th rifle made by Savage at their factory in Chicopee Falls, Mass. The C in the serial is for Chicopee. In all likelihood, your rifle was made 1944. The square S in front of The No. 4 Mk. I* is Savage's mark. The "England" stamp was applied after the rifle was sold surplus, prior to export from the UK.
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Thats really cool. I was told when I bought the rifle it was a 1950 rifle. Shows what a little knowledge can give you eh? Any idea as the date it was made though???
 
By the way, since we are being picky, LONGBRANCH is a place, not a company. SAL (Small Arms Ltd) was the crown corporation that built the Canadian rifles (and stens) during WWII, and was located in Long Branch, Ontario. After the war, the company was transformed into CAL (Canadian Arsenals Ltd), and continued to serve Canada's arms needs until it was shut down in the 70s.

Just as the US put the C in the serial numbers of rifles built at Chicopee Falls, SAL used the L in the Canadian rifles and stens, Inglis used the T (for Toronto) on the Brens, Boys rifles, .303 aircraft Browning MGs, and hipowers, and Border City Industries used W for Windsor on the 30cal M1919s they produced.
 
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